Today we enjoyed our trip to the Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea to see Theatr na Nog's wartime production - 'The White Feather.' A young boy, Davey Jones, dreams of escaping the humdrum reality of life in Swansea as World War One rages. Theatr na Nog's brilliant play told the story of how Davey signs up for war, believing that it will bring excitement and make his family proud of him. He leaves behind his family, friends and his shell-shocked older brother, Rhys. The reality of war is far from what Davey imagined and, on a fateful night during the dreadful battle for Manetz Wood in July 1916, his life passes before his eyes as he stands confronted by a German soldier in a muddy, bomb crater. The production used the words of the World War One poets as well as Welsh folk music to tell the tale of family, love and loss.

Davey signs up to fight. Receiving the King's Shilling.

ChrisIt was an emotional experience watching the dramatic scenes of the play where Davey and his friend, Charlie, faced the horrors of life in the frontline trenches - up to their knees in mud as rats scurry by. The play was full of suspense and drama as the skyline was lit up with fiery explosions.

Davey's brother, Rhys, knows the horrors of war.

Theatr na nog's play helped us to empathise with the lives of ordinary people living through extraordinary times - World War One. This experience of live theatre enthralled and enthused us all with its great characters and action-packed plot. In the play, Davey's brother and sister, Rhys and Rose, try to dissuade him from signing up for war but he is determined. After signing up and receiving the King's Shilling, Davey trains to be a front line soldier before travelling to France to face the German on the frontline scarred by barbed wire.

A dilemma unfolds during the play as Davey and Charlie are confronted by the enemy - a German doctor called Jurgen. He gives injured Charlie medical attention that saves his life. As David fights in the trenches, he picks up a single white feather; a feather that signals that someone is watching over him. David, though, is not as lucky as Charlie and faces certain death at the hands of the enemy.

The theatre company consisted of only four actors but each of them played several roles. Chris, for example, played the roles of Charlie and the brothers' father!! The play had many emotional moments such as when Rose tried to stop her fourteen year old brother signing up.

At the end of the play 'The White Feather,' the four actors held a question and answer session where we had an opportunity to ask them questions about the play and about the process of staging the performance. We asked some interesting questions such as "Did you have to do a lot of research before acting in the play?", "How long did it take to prepare and rehearse the play?", "Which characters did the actors most enjoy playing?", "How were the white feathers released?".......

After eating our lunch at the theatre, we headed to Swansea Museum where we were met by Mr. Andrews, the education officer. He talked to us about the background to World War One and told us many interesting facts such as how 20 million people had been killed by the end of the war! We had an opportunity to go into a World War One frontline trench! We also operated a radio, used the semaphore signalling system, dressed up in period costume and looked at World War One artefacts.

Later we headed across to the National Maritime Museum for a brilliant workshop based on World War One. We did a carousel of activities where we moved from one station to another, each with a different wartime theme. One activity, for example, involved handling wartime household artefacts. Other activities focused on 'Weapons War', 'Food in the Trenches' and 'The Smells of the Front Line'. We even had an opportunity to put on gas masks as well as to handle bullet shells, ammunition and a hand grenade! Yikes!

At the museums we had an opportunity to take part in so many hands-on activities linked to World War One! We enjoyed dressing up in authentic 1910s fashion. We even had a chance to hold World War One weapons. We explored a radio shelter and followed a trail around the museum exhibits. We went into a frontline trench and really got a sense of how frightening it would have been to face the enemy over the parapet. Some of us solved clues by looking at wartime propaganda posters. We also enjoyed playing wartime games such as battleships.

Before we knew it, it was time to get back on the bus to return to school! We had all had a fantastic day and had learnt so much about World War One. Thanks to all at Theatr Na Nog, Swansea Museum and the National Maritime Museum for an inspirational day of learning. Diolch yn fawr iawn am ddiwrnod gyffrous.